International journal of palliative nursing
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Palliative care professionals are increasingly exposed to, and under pressure to participate in, research to promote evidence-based practice. This may pose challenges and tensions within normal working practices. ⋯ By reflecting on their experiences and the difficulties they encountered, primarily with regard to obtaining informed consent from patients to take part in the research, this article explores issues relevant to practitioners and researchers when conducting palliative care research involving patients. It concludes by suggesting guidelines for conducting good quality research.
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This article examines the impact legislative developments in the UK have had, and are likely to have, on health care in general and how specialist palliative care providers may need to adapt to these changes. The focus of adaptation is on communication and multidisciplinary teamwork. A brief review of the previous Conservative government's reforms offers a background to understanding how the current Labour government agendas affecting health and social care have been developed. Ideas are put forward to ensure that specialist palliative care provision is maintained and developed within the current structure of the health service.